Etihad Airways visit to Sri Lanka

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has donated more than UAE dirhams 100,000 to underprivileged communities in Sri Lanka.

A delegation
from Etihad Airways visited Sri Lanka this week to present the donation, raised
through a series of charitable initiatives in Abu Dhabi.

His
Excellency Abdul Hamid Abdul Fattah Al Mulla the UAE Ambassador to Sri Lanka
joined the Etihad Airways’ delegation headed by Khaled Al Mehairbi, Senior Vice
President of Government and Aero-political Affairs. The delegation also included
Ali Al Shamsi, Vice President of Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Hub, Adil Al Mulla Vice
President Procurement and Supply Management, Dr Nadia Bastaki, Vice President
Medical Services and Kumar De Silva, Etihad Airways’ General Manager in Sri
Lanka, along with the airline’s Colombo-based staff.

The
two-day program included the official opening of the Maha Vidyalaya School in Alankuda
which was fully rebuilt with funds raised by the Abu Dhabi based airline. The
school benefits 1,500 students who received care packages with school bags,
stationery, shirts, blankets, dates, and clothes.

Khaled
Al Mehairbi, who also serves as Chairman of Etihad Airways’
Sports and Social Committee, said:
“As the UAE flag carrier we are committed to giving back to those in need. We are extremely proud to play a part in
helping these students pursue their studies and hope that our visit will help
raise awareness of global education, and at the same time celebrate our eleven years of operations in Sri Lanka.

“This donation represents the kindness and
generosity of our staff and partners, as well as the wider community in Abu
Dhabi who participated in this community initiative.”

The visit also
included the official launch of a new women’s clinic at the District Kalpitiya Hospital
in Puttalam located north west of Colombo.

Etihad Airways funded the
establishment and refurbishment of the new clinic to improve health and
wellness of women in rural areas and increase awareness of
the importance of the early detection of breast cancer.

The airline’s Guest Services
team donated UAE Dirhams 50,000 raised through various charitable initiatives
and activities during 2014. Blankets were also distributed to in-house patients.

Khaled Al Mehairbi said: “I would like to thank the Guest Services team for
their generosity. Etihad Airways provides
ongoing support for many initiatives aimed at improving the health and welfare
of working women and children. We look toward to working closely with the
hospital in the future.”

The
delegation concluded its trip with a visit to St Joseph Orphanage in Colombo
where more than 500 children received care packages made up of blankets,
clothes and toys.

“We
are happy that our donations put a smile on the faces of our children and
friends in Sri Lanka. Our special thanks go to all parties who supported the
success of this trip including The Red Crescent, The UAE Embassy in Sri Lanka,
the Etihad Airways’ team, Abu Dhabi Police, Immigration Department at Abu Dhabi
International Airport, Abu Dhabi Airports Companies’ staff (ADAC), and Etihad
staff at Abu Dhabi International Airport,” Khaled Al Mehairbi concluded.